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SUDBURY, MA. -- December 1, 2017 --- Camp Casco, a nonprofit organization offering free camp experiences for childhood cancer patients and survivors, presented Stephen Sallan, M.D., a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute pediatric oncologist, with its first annual Friend For Life award at the Campfires and Cocktails annual benefit. The “Friend for Life” award recognizes an outstanding individual who has greatly impacted the childhood cancer community. Dr. Sallan is a leader in his field, through his work progressing the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of pediatric cancer and a disease that affects many of Camp Casco’s campers.

From left: Erin Stern, Dr. Stephen Sallan, and camper Maeve

“I am honored and humbled to be a Friend for Life,” said Dr. Sallan, upon receipt of the award at the Campfires and Cocktails fundraiser. “We all know what the scourge of cancer is. We have lived it our whole lives. Our mission is to diminish the surgeon of cancer. And an organization such as this is the elongated shadow of its leader and [co-founder and CEO] Erin, you certainly cast a large shadow.”

Dr. Sallan is a pediatric oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children's Hospital, professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Staff Emeritus at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He has dedicated his career to improving long-term outcomes for children and young adults affected by ALL. Dr Sallan’s therapy treatments offer less toxic options and have improved childhood cancer survival rates.

“The passion Dr. Sallan puts into his research and treatments for pediatric cancer patients is admirable,” said Erin Stern, co-founder and CEO, Camp Casco. “Approximately 20 percent of children with leukemia cannot be treated by current therapies and Dr. Sallan is committed to finding them a less toxic treatment. He is an invaluable member of the childhood cancer community and we are thrilled to name him Camp Casco’s Friend for Life.”

“Dr. Sallan was unanimously selected to be the inaugural Friend For Life award winner because he epitomizes Camp Casco’s value of striving to improve the lives of pediatric oncology patients and survivors,” said Dr. Michael Goldberg co-founder and board member, Camp Casco. “Dr. Sallan has dedicated his career to patient care and to scientific research. He has won numerous awards, including the James Carreras Prize for International Pediatrician of the Year and ASCO’s Pediatric Oncology Award and Lecture and was clearly an excellent choice.”